This Day in History: December 29, 1890
How did it begin, this hate for the Indian nation? They were, after all, native to America well before the arrival of the "white man." It was many thousands of years before the arrival of Christopher Columbus ships that a different group of people inhabited America: the nomadic ancestors of modern Native Americans. This, in fact, occurred more than 12,000 years ago when a land bridge connected Asia to what is now called Alaska.
So, why so much hatred? Did the so-called savages have no regard for human life? Was the "white man" solely a man of peace? While not all intentions may have been of a peaceful nature, did the savagery not hold true also for the whites? Were the buffalo not slaughtered simply to satisfy the greed of trappers and fur traders, whereas for the Indian, the buffalo was a necessary source for survival? Did Indian beliefs encompass rituals of devil worship and demons or were their beliefs something of a totally different spiritual nature connected to the land and totally misunderstood?
Historical Documents: Trail of Tears |
Native Americans Online |
Within the Ghost Dance spiritual movement, thousands of Native Americans only longed to have their land restored and be rid of the white man. Unfortunately, the movement resulted in violence as many innocent Native Americans were slaughtered needlessly. On this day, December 29, 1890, in the final chapter of America's long Indian wars, the U.S. Cavalry kills 146 Sioux (men, women and children) at Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. Read MORE. . .
A Proud People |
Unhealed Wounds
Were their desires
indeed so bad
for the government
to take all they had?
Were their beliefs
indeed so wrong
for them to be stripped
of everything they owned?
How did it begin
this hatred so grave
of a life pure and simple
strong and brave?
Within these questions
lies few answers
as hated continues
spreading like cancers
While no longer limited
to a single race
the fires still burn
at a rapid pace
Unhealed wounds
seethe beneath the skin
suppressing real feelings
peace will never win
©12/29/2012
Sharla Lee Shults
Sharla Lee Shults
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